Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations

Hillary Clinton Supports Scrapping The Health Law’s ‘Cadillac Tax’

She has described her support for repealing the tax, which news outlets report as a step that could help her claim more labor-union backing, as a change that would strengthen the health law.

The New York Times:
Hillary Clinton To Propose Scrapping Health Law’s ‘Cadillac Tax’
Hillary Rodham Clinton will in the coming days speak out against the so-called Cadillac tax on certain health care plans, a move that is part of a series of reforms she’s suggesting for the Affordable Care Act, according to a union official briefed on her plans. Mrs. Clinton’s campaign aides informed Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers, of her intentions in the last few days, according to a senior official with the labor group. The union made an early endorsement of Mrs. Clinton in July. (Haberman, 9/29)

The Wall Street Journal:
Hillary Clinton Supports Repealing ‘Cadillac Tax’ On Health Plans
Mrs. Clinton, the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination, has attempted to strike a balance on the 2010 health law. She has vigorously defended the law while also promising to address what are seen as its shortcomings. Last week, she proposed new caps on out-of-pocket costs on private insurance plans. On Tuesday, she described repealing the tax as “strengthening” the law while reiterating her view that the law is working well. (Meckler and Armour, 9/29)

The Washington Post:
Clinton To Call For Nixing ‘Cadillac Tax’ On Health Plans Under Obamacare
Clinton will propose alternative revenue plans to make up for the lost money, her campaign said. ... She had indicated skepticism about the Cadillac tax and said she was examining possible changes. The tax is a major “pay-for” to offset increased costs under the ACA, and was one of the major cost-curbing mechanisms in the law, with then-CBO Director Douglas Elmendorf calling it one of two "powerful policy levers for encouraging changes in medical practice.” (Gearan, 9/29)

The Associated Press:
Clinton Calls For Repeal Of Health Care Law's 'Cadillac Tax'
Many unions have held off from endorsing Clinton, often because their rank-and-file members prefer her primary opponent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and their leadership wants to wait and see if Vice President Joe Biden decides to enter the 2016 race. Last week, Sanders and seven other Democratic Senators introduced a plan to repeal the tax. (9/29)

Reuters:
Clinton Calls For Repeal Of 'Cadillac Tax' On Healthcare Plans
The move by Clinton, the Democratic front-runner in the 2016 White House race, is a break with the Obama administration that could win her more backing from some of the labor unions critical to her White House bid. Labor unions oppose the tax because their members often receive more generous healthcare plans and they fear it would raise their costs. (Whitesides, 9/29)

The Hill:
Clinton Opposes Obamacare Cadillac Tax
The controversial tax, which has been repeatedly delayed, is still three years away from implementation. It has drawn opposition from union groups and Democrats in areas such as New England and the West Coast, where health insurance costs are higher. (Ferris, 9/29)

CBS News:
Hillary Clinton: Repeal Obamacare's Cadillac Tax
Clinton has been rolling out proposed changes to the Affordable Care Act, including plans to crack down on high prescription drug costs and lower out-of-pocket costs for families. But she has been a vocal supporter of the law as she campaigns for the Democratic nomination. (Kaplan, 9/29)

In other news -

The Boston Globe:
For Kennedy, A Frustration Over Clinton Approach To Health Care
Some 15 years had passed since Bill and Hillary Clinton’s health care legislation failed when Senator Edward M. Kennedy sat for a 2008 oral history interview, but his frustration over the couple’s handling of the measure seemed to anger him as much as ever. “I think everybody understands now that that was a catastrophic mistake,” Kennedy told a historian from the University of Virginia’s Miller Center, according to transcripts released this week. (Kranish, 9/30)

This is part of the KHN Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.

Thank you for your interest in supporting Kaiser Health News (KHN), the nation’s leading nonprofit newsroom focused on health and health policy. We distribute our journalism for free and without advertising through media partners of all sizes and in communities large and small. We appreciate all forms of engagement from our readers and listeners, and welcome your support.

KHN is an editorially independent program of KFF (formally, The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation). You can support KHN by making a contribution to KFF, a non-profit charitable organization that is not associated with Kaiser Permanente.

Click the button below to go to KFF’s donation page which will provide more information and FAQs. Thank you!